Puzzle



Nov- 10, 1925- c. J. MEEHAN' PUZZLE Filed April 22. 1925 Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES CORNELIUS J. MEEHAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PUZZLE.

Application filed April 22, 1925. Serial No. 24,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS J. MEE- HAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to puzzles and has special reference to a number puzzle.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and interesting puzzle which is not only amusing but which also affords exercise for those mental faculties relating to numher.

A second important obj ect of the invention is to provide improved apparatus to be used in the solution of the puzzle.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general of a novel puzzle and apparatus for solvingthe same.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a board and pieces for solving this puzzle the pieces be ing displaced from the position of solution and grouped in one corner of the board.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the pieces in the position in which they rest when the puzzle is solved.

In the apparatus here shown there is provided a board 10 which is preferably square in form and is provided with a peripheral wall or rim 11. Inscribed, printed or otherwise shown on this board is a pair of interlaced equilateral triangles 12 forming a regular six pointed star. In this star are also indicated the diagonal lines 13 running through the center of the star from opposite points thereof. At each point of the star and at each intersection of two or more .lines, whether formed by the outlines of the triangles intersecting each other, the triangles intersecting the diagonals, or the diagonals intersecting at the center, there is placed a small circle 14 containing an al phabetic character 15. Under these circumstances there will be nineteen of these circles and an inspection of Figure 1 will disclose that the alphabetic characters are arranged in regular order, row by row, beginning with A at the top point of the star.

In addition to this board there is provided a series of counters or pieces 16, nineteen in number and each provided on one face with a number 17, the numbers running serially from 1 to 19 as shown.

The object of the puzzle is to so arrange the pieces 16 on the circles 14 that the sum of the numbers on each of the lines forming the star and its diagonals shall be equal. That is to say, each row of pieces shall add up equally. Inspection of Figure 2 will show that there are five pieces in each row and that, when arranged as in that figure the sum will equal forty-eight. Thus on the top horizontal row there is shown a set of pieces carrying the numbers 8, 16, 2, 15 and 7 which, when added, total 48. The same total will be found on the diagonal starting with the piece numbered 8 and on the row starting with this piece and ending at the piece numbered 9 at the bottom point of the star.

The purpose of the alphabetic characters 14 is to enable a key to be provided whereby the correct positions of the pieces for the solution of the puzzle may be obtained. Thus the key may read A1; B-8; C-16 etc.

The puzzle may be solved by removing all pieces from the star and placing them back, shifting them about until actual count shows each row to add as forty-eight or the plece numbered 19 may be omitted and the remaining pieces placed haphazard on the spots and moved or jumped till arranged in proper order as disclosed by the key. Thus the puzzle may be used as a purely mathematical puzzle or as a simple puzzle of the movable piece type.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

In a puzzle of the class described, a board having the representation of a six pointed star formed by a plurality of interlaced equilateral triangles andprovided with diagonals Between the points of the star interpoints are formed on each line, and a series 7 seating at a common point constituting the of pieces consecutively numbered and equal center of the star, such representation havin number to the station spots, said station 10 mg station spots indicated at each-point of spots'having key indicia shown thereon.

- the star, the center of the star and each in- In testimony Whereof'I afiix my signature.

tersection of the triangles with each other and With the diagonals wherebyv five station CORNELIUS J. MEEHAN. 

